Comet ISON grazes the sun

A comet that gained an earthly following because of its bright tail visible from space was initially declared dead after essentially grazing the sun. Now, there is a sliver of hope that Comet ISON may have survived.

In a composite image provided by NASA, Comet ISON nears the sun in an image captured at 10:51 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013. The sun was imaged by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, and an image from ESA/NASA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory shows the solar atmosphere, the corona. Scientists are studying spacecraft images to find out whether a small part ISON survived its close encounter with the sun.

In a composite image provided by NASA, Comet ISON nears the sun in an image captured at 10:51 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013. The sun was imaged by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, and ... more

In the early hours of Nov. 27, 2013, Comet ISON entered the field of view of the European Space Agency/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. In this picture, called a coronagraph, the bright light of the sun itself is blocked so the structures around it are visible. The comet is seen in the lower right; a giant cloud of solar material, called a coronal mass ejection or CME, is seen billowing out under the sun.
Comet ISON, which began its trip from the Oort cloud region of our solar system, will reach its closest approach to the sun on Thanksgiving Day, skimming just 730,000 miles above the sun's surface.

In the early hours of Nov. 27, 2013, Comet ISON entered the field of view of the European Space Agency/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory. In this picture, called a coronagraph, the bright light of the sun ... more

This still image from the video shows comet ISON just passing the... Photo-5524028.75052 - Houston Chronicle

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Comet ISON shines brightly in this image taken on the morning of Nov. 19, 2013. This is a 10-second exposure taken with the Marshall Space Flight Center 20" telescope in New Mexico. The camera there is black and white, but the smaller field of view allows for a better "zoom in" on the comet's coma, which is essentially the head of the comet.

Comet ISON shines brightly in this image taken on the morning of Nov. 19, 2013. This is a 10-second exposure taken with the Marshall Space Flight Center 20" telescope in New Mexico. The camera there is black ... more

Photo: NASA/MSFC/MEO/Cameron McCarty

Comet ISON shines brightly in this image taken on the morning of... Photo-5524029.75052 - Houston Chronicle

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NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring Comet ISON as it approaches the sun. This image from the spacecraft's Heliospheric Imager shows, going left to right, Comet ISON, Mercury, Comet Encke and Earth late on Nov. 21, 2013. The sun sits outside of the field of view of this camera to the right. However, the sun has released a Coronal Mass Ejection, or CME, filling the right of the photo, which appears to be headed toward the comet.

NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft is monitoring Comet ISON as it approaches the sun. This image from the spacecraft's Heliospheric Imager shows, going left to right, Comet ISON, Mercury, Comet Encke and Earth late on ... more

Comet ISON is seen looking through the telescope’s Focal Plane Imager, a guide camera, on Oct. 24, 2013. The comet’s tail extends to the lower right. The comet was very faint and was imaged at 11.1 and 19.7-micron wavelengths.

Comet ISON is seen looking through the telescope’s Focal Plane Imager, a guide camera, on Oct. 24, 2013. The comet’s tail extends to the lower right. The comet was very faint and was imaged at 11.1 and ... more

Taken on Nov. 19, 2013, this image shows a composite "stacked" image of comet ISON. These five stacked images of 10 seconds each were taken with the 20" Marshall Space Flight Center telescope in New Mexico. This technique allows the comet's sweeping tail to emerge with more detail.

Taken on Nov. 19, 2013, this image shows a composite "stacked" image of comet ISON. These five stacked images of 10 seconds each were taken with the 20" Marshall Space Flight Center telescope in New Mexico. ... more

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft took this image of the comet ISON during its closest approach of Mercury on November 20. ISON was approximately 22.5 million miles from MESSENGER and 42.1 million miles from the sun.

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft took this image of the comet ISON during its closest approach of Mercury on November 20. ISON was approximately 22.5 million miles from MESSENGER and 42.1 million miles from the

Comet ISON shows off its tail in this three-minute exposure taken on Nov. 19, 2013 using a 14-inch telescope located at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The comet was just nine days away from its close encounter with the sun.

Comet ISON shows off its tail in this three-minute exposure taken on Nov. 19, 2013 using a 14-inch telescope located at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The comet was just nine days away from its close ... more

In this photo provided by NASA, Comet ISON shines in this five-minute exposure taken at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on Nov. 8, 2013. At the time of this picture, Comet ISON was 97 million miles from Earth, heading toward a close encounter with the sun on Nov. 28.

In this photo provided by NASA, Comet ISON shines in this five-minute exposure taken at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on Nov. 8, 2013. At the time of this picture, Comet ISON was 97 million miles from ... more